Crackle

The weight of the world

Norella

I stood on the balcony from my chambers, clouds drifting by lazily. “After a few centuries one would think you would be use to that view by now” Clem’s baritone voice vibrated as he stepped into the pink light of the rising sun. “I hope my presence will bring peace until you are ready to grace my ears with your whoas.” I looked up into my mate’s emerald eyes, a millennia wouldn’t be enough time lost in them. His hand cupped my face as he thumbed my bottom lip from the grasp of my teeth. “To unburden myself by burdening you is no fair task.” “To split your burden with your helpmate is as intended by Ojo” The heat of a freshly lit fireplace warmed my skin as Clem bent down to rest his forehead against mine. “She is not helpless you know. She will be fine,” Clem’s breath enveloped me in a cocoon of comfort as I slid my head from his and rested it on his chest. “She has your intelligence, your instinct, your heart, and a dash of my persistence, there is nothing down there that will stop her from returning to our home and freeing us from this bondage.” I knew he was right, but to have to burden my gift from Ojo with such a task was almost too much to bare. I had relationships with all of the tribes, I knew how to get them to fall in line. I had never prepared Zeya for this task. “I thought I had more time to make introductions, to to-“ my voice broke as a tear slid down my cheek. “What if they don’t recognize her authority? What if they take advantage of our circumstances? Zeya is kindhearted, she will not demand, dictate, or force her will upon them. She does not understand the delicacy of our rule over the tribes.” Clem pulled away from me placing his hand under my chin and pulling my eyes into his own. “She is ordained by Ojo, just as our tribe is. Just as you are. A formal ceremony does not change that. She will not make it happen the way you would have but she will make it happen. Now let’s convene our war council and plan for what lays ahead. When she frees us we must be ready to join the fight.” Clem grabbed my hand and we left the balcony and the beautiful sunrise behind.

Clem

I sat across the table from my beloved. Her eyes were glazed over with distraction, and she was biting her lip again. I would have to be the responsible one right now. I listened as our advisors brainstormed ideas for our role in the upcoming battle. Each of them using lines from the prophecy to support their idea. I allowed them plenty of time to bicker before I decided they wouldn’t make any progress today and brought the meeting to a close with the understanding that we would meet again the next day. Once the advisors had left the room, I moved to my lover’s side and kissed her forehead. Blinking Norella looked up at me, “Where did everyone go?” She asked her voice void of everything. A sadness settled in my chest that I knew did not belong to me. “They were dismissed until tomorrow. Nothing was getting accomplished, so I let them leave to settle them down.” I took Norella’s hand and kissed it before prompting her to rise from her seat. “I think we should take a walk. It has been a trying time and you need to clear your head so that you can focus. I am here for support, but you must know they do not trust me to lead.” Norella and I spoke quietly as we walked the halls of our home heading towards the gardens. “They trust you plenty, you should know that by now. You are my mate and handpicked by Ojo to lead in my absence. You can’t think that your circumstance of birth still plays a factor in how you are received here.” I watched as Norella’s eyes lit with fire at the very thought that anyone had made her mate feel like he belonged anywhere other than by her side. We turned into the garden. The glass windows overhead let the light shine in every direction. The flowery fragrances danced about and she stopped for a moment to drink them in. She was beautiful as always. Her copper brown coils were pinned up and sprinkled with grey streaks. Her deep chestnut eyes caught the light making them warm and welcoming. Her full lips hung in a frown and a crease sat between her thick browns. “I will never be a native of Sky no matter how hard I try to adapt to this way of life, or how hard I try to live up to expectations. I’m not complaining I’m just stating the facts.” I stood in front of my mate, both hands wrapped around her dainty gloved ones, looking into her eyes. “I just need you to understand they need you to be present. We need you to be present. Our child needs you to be present, right now. You’re always so strong and I know right now that’s difficult, but you must be for us all. When it’s just me and you be as weak as you want to be, but when we step into that war room you have to put on the mask you’ve worn since you ascended.” I knew I was being harsh, but I knew her better than anyone, this was what she needed right now. So, as badly as I wanted to just wrap her up in my arms and protect her from everything I had to give her what she needed more than I had to give myself what I wanted. I bent down kissed her and turned back to towards the exit leaving her in the garden alone.

Miljena

I rose the next day rather worse for wear. I hadn’t gotten much sleep after supervising the sprites clean up. At least I was able to enlist them for that task, without them I would’ve still been gathering bodies on a pyre and the random people who were still in the village would not have scurried away. As it was the stronghold was deathly silent. I slid from my bed and began readying myself for what I knew would be a daunting night. I swung open my bedroom door headed for the kitchens and almost ran into one of the sprites. Calling my connection to Ojo to my eyes I saw a second sprite nearby. “Is there something I can assist you with tonight?” I asked agitated that they would even attempt to hide themselves in my presence. “We have received a message I do believe you were awaiting. We thought it best we bring it to you rather than you having to seek us out for it.” Because of their unique biology the sprites were able to use the oseo to communicate with each other over long distances, which came in handy when coordinating with multiple parties in multiple locations. “Things are running smoothly. You need only worry about your next task leave the cohesion of this to me. Make sure to escort each of your comrades back to their home. Convene with their leader and solidify the plan. Make sure everyone understands their role and plays it impeccably. Remind them that for there to be peace the humans must be shown what a war with us all looks like.” I listened to the cold demanding voice with only slight agitation. I already knew what I had to do I wanted to know details from the other end. I would not ask twice however, so the answer I received would have to do. “Thank you for your consideration and timely delivery” I said as I proceeded to the kitchens to break my fast, the sprites followed closely behind me.

I mentally mapped out the journey ahead as I finished breaking my fast with two boiled eggs, a sweet bun, and a some dried meat. With the sun fading fast the dwarves would rise soon and we could begin our trek to the mountains and get squared away.

With the moonlight beaming down on them us we had almost reached the mountains. Not much conversation had taken place after the dwarves made their appearance for the evening. Just details on the specific location of their troops along with our destination after collecting the troops and details about our arrival at Smuldern the dwarves’ capitol. I had a respect for the dwarves I could not say I shared for any of the other races. Their histories proved their determination and ability to withstand even the direst situations and keep a cool head about them. Don’t get me wrong I revered the sprites for their natural abilities with the oseo, but the dwarves possessed what could only be forged by prevailing over hardship time and time again.

Linking up with the troops turned out to be the simple part. They weren’t that deep in the mountains, so we had quite a way to travel if we were going to make good time with the rest of our trip. We would have to stop during the day until we made it deeper into the mountains and could utilize the tunnel systems. The dwarves had created an intricate traveling network within the caves. The network spread far and deep making travel easier and faster than it would be if we had to climb up and down or hike around the mountains. The tunnels were marked directionally so that you couldn’t get lost. It had to have taken generations to build them all up, since their lives were shorter than ours, and I couldn’t begin to understand how they managed to maintain them all. But they were there, readily available and functionally kept so we would use them.

Two days of travel and resting brought us to the tunnel system and eventually into the capitol. It was nothing like I thought it would be the first time I arrived there. I was expecting it to be smaller, darker, drearier, but to my surprise the cavern that housed the enormous capitol had been breath taking. I had visited the Earth tribe’s underground civilization many times over my life but it did not compare to Smulderen. The walls of the cavern were all covered in thin delicately carved crystals that reflected and projected light and color through the entire city. The homes and shops were all made from precious stones and metals to reflect the dwellers specialty. Looking on it from above as you descended into the city was like looking at a quilt of generations past. In the heart of the city was the plunge as the dwarves called it. It was a deep fissure lined with crystals of all shapes, sizes and colors. It illuminated the area at dusk and dawn casting rainbows throughout the city. To the east extended the stronghold, only accessible by one of the four bridges that led to different parts of the city. From other parts of Smulderen you could not see it for the stronghold was deeper into the cavern than the rest of the city. As you descended into the stronghold you would think yourself being swallowed up by a dream, so brilliant were the crystals that lit the descent. Coming to the welcoming hall you were greeted by marble floors and granite walls lined with light crystals that cast a golden light on everything. There were few sights more beautiful to me than Smulderen, I drank in every bit of it as we made our procession down to and through the city arriving at the stronghold.

Another thing I respected about the dwarves was their appreciation for other’s time. They tended not to waste other people’s time and did not want theirs wasted either. I was led directly to the congress hall to begin discussing the particulars of our plans.

Zeya

Despite what my mother said there was no way I was leaving for some far away land without knowing how my aunt was. I also had to get my letter to the king, he would need time to wrangle in all the other kingdoms into cooperation. I left my pack at the door of the cabin, tucked the note into my boot, and started the hike back to the stronghold. The moon was well on its way up by the time I saw the gate port signaling I was almost there. As I came to the crest of the last hill before the stronghold, I was surprised to find no one was guarding the walls. The enemy army was nowhere to be seen. Who would overtake a stronghold and then abandon it? I took the same path I took to exit the stronghold the night before. Coming upon the stairs I anticipated seeing the fallen body of Flyn, but there was no Flyn. Perhaps they just needed slaves? Maybe they collected their rewards and left… if I was honest with myself, I didn’t know much about the other races. It wasn’t a required part of my tutoring to learn anything further than the basics. Their life spans, their strongholds, and their essence manipulation was all I needed to know. Now I wished they had spent more time on the subject, told me more, prepared me for having to possibly interact with those races. But at the time the humans still thought we were angel or gods or something, and we had no real relationships with the other races. As far as I knew no one could have foreseen this happening, but I was clearly wrong. It did make sense, now, after reading that letter why we kept ourselves so far out of the business of the elves and dwarves. If we kept ourselves apart there was no chance of the curse being activated. Which brought to question which of us would work with the others? Which of us would even have the access to the others, if I didn’t even know much about them how could anyone else?

I continued walking, my mind racing with more questions than answers, still hoping beyond hope to at least find some clue that Miljena was still alive. I came to the hall near the entrance, splintered wood scattered the floor, blood was splattered about, but there were no bodies anywhere. There must have been Sprites here, there isn’t even any drag marks through the blood. I thought my heart sinking. I would find no clues about my aunt here. I turned to leave the way I came but heard shuffling coming from the dining hall. Drawing a knife from my boot I changed directions towards the dining hall. I pushed the door open taking surveillance of the room and locked eyes with Gash. “What in Ojo’s name are you doing here?!” I screamed taking long strides to quickly close the distance between us. Gash dropped the bag he was holding eyes wide with fear and began to sputter, “ I-I-I.” “You better give me a good answer or I swear I’ll tear you apart! Spit it out silver tongue! You’ve always had some smooth lie before!” I was on him now knife pointing to his chest.” “I was just looking for survivors. I looked everywhere and couldn’t find anyone, so I thought I’d clean up a bit in case someone returned.

“How in the name of Ojo did you manage to trick so many women into sleeping with you? You know what I don’t even care. I will make you a deal” I said already second guessing my split-second decision. “You can keep the goblets in that bag if you deliver this letter to king Vlad” I looked at Gash a smirk already forming on his lips. “Goblets?” he said feigning innocence not remotely convincingly. I poked him a bit with the tip of my knife, “Alright, Alright what letter do I have to deliver for you to leave me alone?” I lowered my weapon and reached down into my boot for the letter. Giving Gash one more glare I handed it to him, “Seriously Gash, this has to make it to Vlad.” “I got you Z don’t stress.” “If you screw me over, I will end you.” I drove home my threat by pointing the knife back at Gash’s chest. Gash looked sternly into my eyes. I anticipated a solemn promise that he will deliver the letter but instead he said, “You’d have to find me first,” I burst into laughter despite myself and jabbed Gash in the arm. “For real though Z, I’ll get it there you can trust me with this one.” Gash stated all jesting out of his voice. He bent down picked up the bag and turned to leave. “Can I use a horse too or is this not that urgent?” Gash called back to me a smile in his voice. “Take a horse Gash, just get the letter there quickly please.” I turned back to the door I entered through and headed for my chambers. I could rest here tonight and return to the cabin in the morning.

I walked up the stairs aiming for my chambers but somehow ended up at Miljena’s still wide-open door. I stepped inside my aunt’s room half expecting to see her pop out of her closet hair pulled up fly with aways framing her face and wearing anything she felt like since she could make wet paper look good. I felt my eyes begin to burn as I thought about last night. I strode over to the chase and slumped down into it. Taking inventory of the room I wondered how it was so orderly. Miljena’s dress and shoes weren’t strewn about like I knew mine would be in my room, in fact not one thing seemed out of place. Miljena had gotten to my room as soon as I had finished dressing and arming myself. How had she done that and still had time to clean up? The woman was masterful, but she wasn’t that good. I bolted up from the chase and stormed over to her closet searching for the green dress she had on before the attack began. Every green item I found I tore from their hanging positions and realizing it wasn’t the dress I threw them to the floor. After scouring the closet for that stupidly gorgeous green dress and coming up empty handed, I slumped down to the closet floor tears flowing from my eyes. How long had I been crying? Where the flip was that dress? Where was my aunt? My thoughts scrambled and my breathing came in heavy hiccups.

My eyes opened, my mouth felt pasty, and my face felt crusty where tears had dried. How long had I slept there? Pushing myself from the floor I stumbled over the collection of green clothes on the floor and tried to catch myself on the closet door frame grasping the tapestry of my family crest hanging next to the closet instead. I slipped again my hand gripping on the tapestry more firmly to support my full weight. I still held the edge of the tapestry as I righted myself taking a step out of the closet and onto stable flooring. Feeling a breeze, I peered behind it at a passageway. I ripped the tapestry off the wall, staring at a narrow stairway I never knew existed. This must be my answer I thought as I lit the torch on the wall and began my descent down the stairs. Half a flight down I was rewarded with a green satin ribbon with a large sapphire attached to it. Miljena had been wearing it around her neck last night. I kept moving down the stairs hopeful that I would find the rest of my aunt’s clothes as I followed the secret passage. I picked up one item after another until I reached another tapestry and the end of the stairs. Pushing the tapestry to the side I stepped out into the hallway beside the dining hall. I couldn’t remember seeing Miljena on the stairs last night, this made perfect sense now. Taking the main stairs, I trekked back to Miljena’s room. I slid the torch into a wall slot and sat on the chase with the items still in my arms. I may not have found my aunt but somehow, I felt more resolved, more confident that if she could hide a secret passage from me she could surely have escaped through one. With that little bit of peace restored to me I could whip a few fae leaders in line and get them to the portal and break this stupid curse. My aunt would catch up to me when she could just as my mother had said. I cleaned up the mess I made, went to the kitchens to grab a snack and set off on my new adventure.